A 30-minute writing task for your YEAR 4 child - the lake
10.10.25
By now, your Year 4 child may have used the posts from Weeks 1 to 4 to explore writing about a setting—from forests, beaches, markets, and even mysterious caves. Each week we’ve been stretching those creative muscles through short tasks that feel more like storytelling games than homework.
TOP TIP: Encourage your child to ‘paint a picture’ with words. Ask them to imagine they’re telling someone who can’t see the lake at night exactly what it looks, sounds, and feels like.This week’s theme: The Lake at Moonlight
A shimmering, mysterious setting that can feel calm, magical, or even a little spooky—depending on your child’s imagination. Below you’ll find:
A short practice extract
A writing toolkit (words & techniques)
A practical 30-minute task to try at home
A shimmering, mysterious setting that can feel calm, magical, or even a little spooky—depending on your child’s imagination. Below you’ll find:
A short practice extract A writing toolkit (words & techniques) A practical 30-minute task to try at home(If you missed earlier weeks, links are in the comments 
)
)Try this at home (about 30 minutes)
Reading prompt:
‘Layla and Ajay stood at the edge of the silent lake. The water shimmered under the moonlight, a silver mirror stretching into the darkness. Owls called softly from the trees, and the air felt cool against their cheeks. Across the lake, the faint plop of a fish sent ripples gliding across the glowing surface.’
‘Layla and Ajay stood at the edge of the silent lake. The water shimmered under the moonlight, a silver mirror stretching into the darkness. Owls called softly from the trees, and the air felt cool against their cheeks. Across the lake, the faint plop of a fish sent ripples gliding across the glowing surface.’
Task: Describe what it feels like to stand by a moonlit lake.
Tip: Look at a night-time photo of a lake first to spark ideas (or use the one I’ve shared).Writing Toolkit
• Adjectives: shimmering, silvery, glowing, hushed, shadowy, mysterious
• Verbs: shimmered, rippled, glowed, drifted, whispered, gleamed
• Similes: still as midnight glass; ripples spreading like silver threads
• Onomatopoeia: plop, rustle, hoot, splash
• Personification: the moonlight danced across the water; the lake kept its secrets in the dark
• Metaphors: a silver mirror; a pathway of moonlight
• Alliteration: shimmering silver surface; whispering water; moonlit mirror
• Adjectives: shimmering, silvery, glowing, hushed, shadowy, mysterious
• Verbs: shimmered, rippled, glowed, drifted, whispered, gleamed
• Similes: still as midnight glass; ripples spreading like silver threads
• Onomatopoeia: plop, rustle, hoot, splash
• Personification: the moonlight danced across the water; the lake kept its secrets in the dark
• Metaphors: a silver mirror; a pathway of moonlight
• Alliteration: shimmering silver surface; whispering water; moonlit mirror
Parent tip
Invite your child to experiment with atmosphere. A moonlit lake can be calm and beautiful, or it can feel lonely and mysterious. Shifting the mood helps children practise creating tone in their writing.
Invite your child to experiment with atmosphere. A moonlit lake can be calm and beautiful, or it can feel lonely and mysterious. Shifting the mood helps children practise creating tone in their writing.
For example:
‘The moonlit surface was as still as glass, until a sudden splash shattered the silence.’
‘The moonlit surface was as still as glass, until a sudden splash shattered the silence.’
I hope you and your children enjoy this week’s magical adventure by the lake at moonlight. 